December, what a lovely month.

December 1st was my birthday; Josh threw me a birthday party at Volo, a wine bar just down the street from us on Roscoe. The night was filled with delicious food and wine along with all of my closest friends. Neighbors, dear friends from the city, coworkers from Whittier, childhood friends, college roommates, and family were all in attendance, what a blessing to have all the avenues of my life intersect for one fun-filled evening.

Dear Josh who did such a lovely job planning the party in the darling barn at Volo

My oldest friend Becky who was also celebrating her first weekend living in the city. Becky has definately celebrated more birthdays with me than any other friend. Love her!

My neighbor Carrie who was in attendance without Adam (sick again); our family in the city. Tom was also came with his beautiful wife Robin (pictured below).

Robin gifted me with a darling candle from Asrai Garden, which I have been burning with delight since.

Tracy and Kristine. No birthday is complete without my sister.

Shelly, my college roommate for all four years at Hope. Soaking up every moment of her living in the city. Also, you may notice, we were just back from our Caribbean vacation. ;)

My birthday also not complete without these dear coworkers from Whittier. Megan and Annie, always the life of the party.

I had to include this picture of Josh and Bill, Megan's husband. These two can talk for hours about Indie music and biking through the city.

Also that weekend was the annual Wachendorf Christmas party; this time complete with our very own Santa Steve. It was, as usual, a fun evening. This year involved many calamities, which really made it all the more memorable. There was a plethora of spilled wine, a few broken glasses and plates, spilled soup, and the cake topper, a sort-of broken chair. Really though all of it made for intense laughter. Josh and I were reminded of how blessed we are to have such a wonderful group of friends. Living in such a large city can feel lonely at times but when you have evening with friends like these it feels perfectly like home.

Our gracious hosts who have such an amazing open door policy at their house.

Anna, with Robin, was dressed in her Christmas best

We added an ornamate exchange to this years festivities, Josh came home with a fabulous ornament from Steve.

Santa Steve, Adam and I

Love these two, Joe and Sarah

Hmmm, Sarah is so handy, here she is fixing the chair!

Another Christmas tradition for us is the Kriskindlemart at Daley Plaza. This tradition started two years ago when four new friends ventured downtown on the coldest day of the year for gluehwein and schnitzle. We went back this year, on a much warmer evening, this time with a fifth member in the group. The only disapointment was that the wine was no longer served in tacky, red, ceramic snow boot cups, it was served in a more typical, and much less exciting, red Christmas mug. We ended the night at the Paramount Room, which I would highly recommend to anyone; the restaurant is actually owned by the creators of Volo.

Group photo, this year plus Anna, in front of the Daley Plaza tree

Our family

And theirs

Still a celebratory city

Anna, very bundled and uncomfortable

Its been one of the coldest and snowiest Decembers in years, We've been busy at work with new positions, report cards, and Christmas parties, and Josh and I have been shopping for gifts at every spare moment. Such a crazy time of year, but we have certainly been intentional about enjoying the season with the people we love most. December, what a lovely month.

We wish you a very merry Christmas!

ugggh

Right Now for Chicago, IL (60618)
Fair and Windy -5°F Feels Like -29°F Updated Dec 21 08:25 a.m. CT

Whoa...

Think the US government is complicated?  Check out our friends to the north...

http://www.yarnharlot.ca/blog/archives/2008/12/03/what_is_happening_in_canada.html

(via www.themorningnews.org)

yes, i voted for the mutt

The Today Show asks the tough questions and gets right down to the important matters on hand now that Obama has been elected.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27556702/

Cretaceous Period

Two and a half years ago, Brooke and I made a move from the suburbs to the city. We spent a lot of time looking at apartments and even more time complaining about the terrible condition each was in. To paraphrase one apartment leaser: Well, the last renter had 83 cats and they pissed everywhere, but I guarantee the smell will come out. She had a flock of Canadian Geese in her spare room too. The poo stains will come out, not a problem.

One beautiful sunny Sunday afternoon we came to the city to visit a neighborhood we had never been to before, Roscoe Village. We turned left off Damen onto Roscoe and were surprised by the quaintness of the street, lined by restaurants and boutiques. Better yet, we found an apartment that allowed dogs that was also in decent condition. We signed a lease the same day and the rest is history. Sure, we have grown out of it (which happened the 2nd day) and are looking forward to owning our own place one day but it has been a wonderful home and has given us our best friends and neighbors.

To celebrate the day we discovered Roscoe Village and our new home Brooke and I bought a plant. It was a small leafy plant in a silver pot. On our way home to La Grange the heat of the sun beaming through the car window nearly killed the sucker, leaving large black spots on its leaves. It survived and 2 1/2 years later it has grown into a small forest. We brought it in from the deck yesterday and I swear at night I hear tiny little noises coming from the center, like Horton's little Whos have set up shop and colonized our living room.

Even Dogs Like Halloween

Thanks to Uncle Steve, Sadie was gifted a mummy last night and has been romping through the house with it ever since.

uplifting news of the night

Thanks Charlie "Grim Reaper" Gibson.

sadie bunyan

LOL, TTYL BFF

You know how back in elementary and middle school little girls would wear the same thing and think they were cool, and they actually were cool? But then, sometime between 7th and 8th grade, it was no longer cool to wear the same thing unless it was spirit week? Wearing the same thing, they realized, was actually was kind of lame?

Well, we never got the message. Make that messages: We're not little school girls and it's not cool to wear that same thing.


Oh well. SWOBO 4EVA

Leaky faucet

Brooke, home after an afternoon with the girls, snacking on a piece of cheddar cheese before dinner. And I quote: "Sadie! Can you PLEASE stop drooling on me! "

Just sit right back and you'll hear a tale...

A little over two weeks ago Brooke and I celebrated our 3 year anniversary (whoo!). I was on the news sending Brooke a typewritten letter via bicycle courier, we went out to dinner that night and sailing on Lake Michigan.

To sail, we chartered a J22 sailboat from Chicago Sailing Club and were skippered about by Skipper David. David was a funny retired gentleman who insisted on us calling him Skipper at all times. He also wanted us to call whoever was sailing the boat to be called skipper. So, Skipper Josh and Skipper Brooke learned how to sail.

One lesson we were taught was to always announce you next move. So, when turning the boat you're supposed to yell something like "Turning About". I equate this to "Hey, hey you, way up there on the front of the boat! Hold on to the railing 'cause if you don't you're going to fall in the lake. HEY, ARE YOU LISTENING TO ME?! Don't be a dummy! hold onto the rail! Ok, good, you done being difficult? Do you need a timeout? Diaper change? Good, I'm going to turn to the left now."

But, since we were on a really tiny boat and were within a radius of 2 inches of each other I found all this shouting a bit unnecessary.

Skipper Brooke

Skipper Josh

Bubbly (in a red cup, classy)

Unique view of the city

Skipper David, teaching teaching teaching

big hills make me tired

Earlier this summer, I got a new road bike (thanks to some help from mom and dad, thanks!). It's red and brown and super rad. My old clunker, the same one from my days as a 13 year old, has been retired to the basement. It's rusty and creaky however it DOES have a bike rack on the back. Perfect for carrying groceries, Saders, Anna Claire's. I'll probably sell it on craigslist, some hipster will pay big money for such a sweet ride.

I wear spandex now and boy do I look good. What do I look like in spandex you may ask? Well, imagine a twig and now imagine a twig with bark. That's me, a twig with bark. The spandex have buttpads too. It's so hot, Brooke is a lucky women for sure.

I ride to work as much as possible, usually 3-4 days a week. Yes, I get sweaty and gross but have learned how to make myself presentable (baby wipes do amazing things, I may never have to shower again) and make it through the day pretty much unnoticed. There is a great parking place in the docks downstairs but by great I mean it's out of the elements but right next to the stinkiest garbage dumpster ever. Slowly my coworkers are moving to cubes across the office, plants are dying around me, but that's ok because I'm being green, right? Who needs friends and a career when mother earth is on your side? Me and the penguins will be chillin together...hehe I'm so funny.

This morning I blew a flat, my first flat tire (awww). Luckily, while up in Michigan, I bought supplies for just an occasion: CO2, Spare Tire, some red plastic thingy's to put the spare tire on. One problem -- I had no idea how to change the tire. So, what's the first thing I do? Call Adam of course. He gets plenty of these calls from me, mostly from the grocery store (Ummm, Adam? if you were orzo rice where would you be? Adam, how about scallions? Adam, did you even see Project Runway this week? OMG) Adam helps me over the phone, I get the tire on but then realize I used all the CO2 getting to work. Luckily, a kind Chicagoan biker tossed me his and I made it home safe and sound.

I should also mention my bike has only one gear, Adam bought a similar bike, as did Steve. We have formed a very intimidating, spandex wearing, bicycle riding, single speed gang. Watch out.

The ride

She Finally Arrived!

Anna Claire was born yesterday to her beaming parents Adam and Carrie and she's absolutely beautiful!

dinner parties will now be for a party of 5

the proud parents

warm and sleeping

my first time holding Anna

so little

the three girls

compare her size with the size of my hand!

so peaceful

Summer

I've been on summer vacation for about a month now and its been good.....

WachenFos Weekend in Holland

Afternoon lunch at Ralph Lauren

Robin and I threw a baby shower for Carrie (due on July 11)!

Beautiful Flowers from Asrai Garden

Champagne and Raspberries

Josh and I hosted Father's Day with both of our dads

Tracy and I relaxing on the deck

Now that I'm home to walk Sadie a few times a day she's tired out!

Lori and Aaron are married; such a fun wedding!

Girls night out with my work friends

At Brownstone